Support for the drive components of a front wheel drive vehicle

Abstract

A support for the drive components of a front wheel drive vehicle includes a frame adapted to be mounted on a jack, a pair of saddle beams mounted on the frame and being adjustable vertically and horizontally relative thereto for supporting the vehicle engine and transmission. An arm is pivotally mounted at each end of the frame and includes a vertically extending portion which is adapted to be secured to the front wheel hubs for holding the transaxles and wheel struts in position as the engine, transmission, drive axles and struts are removed simultaneously from the vehicle.

We claim: 
     
       1. A support for the drive components axles and wheel hubs of a front wheel drive vehicle; said support including a frame adapted to be connected to a lifting device,   spaced apart first and second support means mounted on the frame for supportingly engaging spaced apart portions of the drive components,   third and fourth support means extending laterally from said frame,   a pair of arm means pivotally mounted on horizontally spaced apart portions of the frame and including means for releasably securing the frame to the hubs and axles coupled to the drive components,   first and second pivot means respectively supporting said arm means for pivotal movement, said pivot means being mounted respectively on said third and fourth support means for movement thereon toward and away from each other,   each arm includes a first portion extending generally horizontally relative to said frame and being connected at one end to said pivot means for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis and a second portion spaced from the pivot means and extending generally upwardly from said first portion, said second portions being spaced apart a distance greater than that between the wheel hubs of said vehicle when said pivot means are adjacent the remote ends of said third and fourth support means, said second portions each having an aperture adjacent the upper end thereof and spaced above said first and second support means a distance equal to that of the wheel hubs from the spaced apart portions of the drive components when said components are supported by the first and second support means, said apertures being constructed and arranged for receiving a vehicle wheel lug so that the second portion of each arm can be secured to one of the wheel hubs of the vehicle.   
     
     
       2. The support set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame includes first and second rail means, web means interconnecting said rail means and supporting the same in a parallel spaced apart relation, said spaced apart support means being horizontally and vertically adjustable on said rails. 
     
     
       3. The support set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame includes first and second rail means, web means interconnecting said rail means and supporting the same in a parallel spaced apart relation, said spaced apart support means being horizontally and vertically adjustable on said rail means. 
     
     
       4. The support set forth in claim 3 wherein said first and second means each includes a first part extending between said rail means and a pair of end parts extending downwardly adjacent said rail means, and clamp means for supporting each of said end parts on the adjacent rail means and for adjustably securing the same on said rail means so that said support means may be longitudinally adjusted on said rail means, said end parts and said clamp means each having mutually cooperable means for vertically adjusting said support means relative to said rail means. 
     
     
       5. The support set forth in claim 4 wherein said arm means are mounted on at least one of said rail means and including clamp means for adjustably securing said arm means on horizontally spaced apart portions of said rail means. 
     
     
       6. The support set forth in claim 5 wherein each arm means includes a first portion extending generally horizontally relative to said frame and being connected at one end thereto for pivotal movement about generally vertical axis and a second portion mounted at the opposite end of said first portion and extending generally upwardly therefrom, said second portion having an aperature adjacent the upper end thereof for receiving a vehicle wheel lug. 
     
     
       7. A support for the drive components of a front wheel drive vehicle; said support including a frame adapted to be connected to a lifting device,   said frame including first and second rail means, web means interconnecting said rail means and supporting the same in a parallel spaced apart relation, spaced apart support means horizontally and vertically adjustable on said rail means for supportingly engaging spaced apart portions of the drive components,   said support means each includes a first part extending between said rail means and a pair of end parts extending downwardly adjacent said rail means, and clamp means for supporting each of said second parts on the adjacent rail means and for adjustably securing the same on said rail means so that said support means may be longitudinally adjusted on said rail means, said second parts and said clamp means each having mutually cooperable means for vertically adjusting said support means relative to said rail means,   a pair of arm means pivotally monted on spaced apart portions of the frame,   each said arm means including a first portion extending generally horizontally relative to said frame and being connected at one end thereto for a pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and a second portion mounted at the opposite end of said first portion and extending generally upwardly therefrom, said second portion having an aperature adjacent the upper end thereof for receiving a vehicle wheel lug for releasably securing the frame to the wheel hubs and axles coupled to the drive components,   the one end of each arm also being mounted for longitudinal movement on said frame.   
     
     
       8. The support set forth in claim 7 wherein said arm means are mounted on at least one of said rail means and including clamp means for adjustably securing said arm means on horizontally spaced apart portions of said rail means.